Page 83 of Cherished By the Sinners

She followed him into the suite.

Brian was standing just inside the doorway, the door wide open.He bounced on his feet a little and gave her a nervous smile when he met her gaze.

Mason stood beside her, one of her hands in his.Magnus stood in front of her with his arms crossed over his chest.

“What?”

The way Magnus said the word made it more of a threat than a question.

“Baz would like all three of you to attend a meeting in a couple of hours,” he said.

“Who will be there?”Magnus asked.

“All of our international guests, hotel management, and some of those government and military friends of Evan and Anna’s.”

“Will Baz be back in time for this meeting?”

“Yes, I just talked to him.”Brian hesitated, then took a step backward toward the doorway.“Yvgeny and Sam will be there too, and a few people from Slovenia.”

Magnus nodded.“Understood.We’ll be there.”

Brian let out a deep breath and muttered, “I’m glad someone understands, because I sure don’t.”

“You’ll understand eventually,” Magnus said.

“Yeah?Well, I’m supposed to get everything ready, but I have no idea how to prepare the conference room.”He threw his hands up in the air.“I mean, do I need to make sure there are snacks?Should I prepare donuts or...what?”

“Ah, you’re wondering if you need to cater to our dietary restrictions.”

“Yes.”

“Plan for any other meeting.Coffee, tea, pastries.Sweep the room for recording equipment, and bring a healthy dose ofI don’t give a fuck.”

“What?”Brian asked, a frown making him look about thirteen years old.“What does that mean?”

“If you look too interested, other people will notice, and they might interpret it as a threat.”

Brian’s shoulders dropped and he hunched himself over so fast it looked like someone had popped his self-esteem balloon.“I’m not sure that’s going to work.I’m not a very good actor.”

Darlene cleared her throat.

All three men looked at her.

“It’s all in your mind-set,” she said.“I’ve seen you look veryI don’t give a fuck.Usually when someone directly threatens the hotel or its staff.Walk into the situation assuming that everyone is a threat.”

“She’s right,” Mason said.“Because the reality is, everyone who shows upwill bea threat.”

Brian’s confused gaze smoothed out as he stared at her.“Huh, okay, I’ll do that.”He smiled.“Thanks, Darlene.You’re a good student of human nature.”

“Yeah,” she said on a humorless chuckle.“Dealing with the worst kind of people will do that.”

Brian’s face fell and he winced.“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean...that is to say, I didn’t intend to bring up bad memories.”He rubbed the back of his head, looking like he wanted the floor to open up and swallow him whole.

“It’s okay,” she said, squeezing Mason’s stiff hand.“I took your comment like you meant it.”

He nodded.“Thanks.”And shut the door.

“He’s probably sprinting to the elevators,” she said with a chuckle.